Love It, Don't Leave It

To the Editors of The Crimson:

"USA--Love it or leave it."

That sign was recently displayed at a Students United for Desert Storm (SUDS) rally on the same grass where once walked Ralph Waldo Emerson, author of the immortal words "Whosoever would be a man must be a nonconformist."

How times have changed.

Because we care for our parents, relatives and numerous friends who are serving our country in this time of need, and because we are fiercely patriotic, we must condemn this assault on America's basic values.

SUDS raises the dark spectre of accusations of treason upon those who have reservations about the war. "USA," they say, "Love it or leave it." We offer a third alternative--improve it.

Those who truly love their country neither thoughtlessly leave it nor blindly agree with everything their government does, but instead make their voices heard to right the wrongs that they see. The true patriot takes the burden of expressing what (s)he thinks is best for the country, and not simply falling into the false patriotism that Emerson described as "the last refuge of a scoundrel."

Patriotism is not defined by killing or by blind obedience; rather, it is defined by a sincere commitment to real progress in our country. Ronald A. Fein '94   Jolyon A. Silversmith '94   Manuel S. Varela '94   James M. Harmon '93   Harvard/Radcliffe Democrats